Relaxation period between 4:30 pm -6:30 p.m. every day to exercise inside residential areas, people were walking in public areas

KUWAIT CITY, May 11: As opinions stands divided between specialists and citizens into a support and oppose of the decision to allow exercise in the dedicated walkway in each region, where many called for to cancel this rule and substitute by practicing at home and in the vicinity of their building as it has negative consequences and ill-effects.

Today it was noticed that some people were taking undue advantage of this decision to take an opportunity to visit and open the offices, while supporters see it as an opportunity to practice sports, especially since many do not have sports equipment at their homes besides this public places and gardens have been shut, also there are many patients who need to walk daily.

Number of specialists in the field of physical activity and mental health and came up with the following opinions:

Nutrition consultant and the head of the Kuwait Society for Food and Nutrition and the head of the Department of Nutrition at the College of Health Sciences Dr. Ahmed Al-Haifi explained that the spread of corona virus (Covid 19) is rapid among the people and the high number of infections and deaths in the world is the best evidence, explaining that the decision to allow walking or physical activity between the hours 4.30 and 6.30 will benefit a few people and ultimately it will harm the majority of them, and therefore will negatively affect the efforts made in confronting this virus.

Dr. Al-Haifi said "The implementation of this decision will make people exchange visits during that period between the residents of the same residential area, calling for this decision to be canceled and compensated for by exercising home physical exercise through exercise at home or using walking devices inside the house, wishing everyone to adhere to the total ban during the coming period until the crisis ends safely".

Dr. Al-Haifi explained that the decision is not correct, pointing out that the best time for sports in the blessed month of Ramadan is between Tarawih prayer and Suhoor, pointing out that it is possible to practice any kind of sport in the home or even in the room, warning that this decision will contribute to the spread of a virus Corona further, stressing that those who support exercising before breaking fast violates the science and global guidelines for sports that advise eating a snack and drinking fluids before exercising.

He added, in general, the practice of walking does not contribute to weight loss, and it is necessary to jog or increase the period of walking for more than an hour, and this is not suitable for the period before breaking fast, noting that burning fat increases with increasing the time period for exercising, and that exercising before suhoor will burn the meal before it turns into body fat.

Dr. Maryam Arab (associate professor in the College of Basic Education - Sports and Disability Sciences) explained that she supports home sport at the present time, especially with the increase of new cases of coronavirus and the increase in deaths, stressing that the majority of people do not adhere to social distancing in the walkway, also many people are not committed to wearing masks and gloves.

Dr. Arab stated that if there is a need to practice walking, it is preferable to make the two-hour walking period after breaking fast, especially since we are in the blessed month of Ramadan and there is a strain on people to go walking during the fasting period, especially with the high temperatures these days.

She said, not all people have enough space in the house for physical activity or the provision of walking devices indoors, so she suggests changing the timing to after breaking fast with an emphasis on physical and social distancing and wearing masks and gloves.

Dr. Arab indicated that the majority of countries in the world have given their citizens two hours to go out and play sports in order to preserve the mental, mental and physical health of members of society.

Dr. Sultan Al-Sahli - a member of the teaching staff at the College of Education at Kuwait University and as a specialist in the field of physical activity and physical education - called for the cancellation of the decision to walk for two hours from 4.30 to 6.30 pm during the total ban period, explaining that the application of this matter is more harmful than beneficial It may contribute to the expansion of the epidemic further.

Dr. Al-Sahli stated that the alternative is to practice physical home activity by taking advantage of the content on YouTube and social media, adding that eliminating the virus is by staying at home and not leaving it during this period.

Dr. Al-Sahli said "Schools, universities, malls, restaurants, health clubs and many others were closed and individuals were prevented from leaving except for the extreme necessity, such as clinics and cooperative societies, according to specific controls, asking: Is walking an absolute necessity in light of this crisis? Therefore, for the purpose of the total isolation to succeed, this decision must be reversed."

On the other hand, there are a number of citizens who supported the decision and demanded its continuity, especially that it will benefit patients suffering from several diseases and the treatment will be by walking, stressing that home sport will not prevent them from practicing walking, especially if not everyone has household walking devices.

They explained that the walkway is a very large area and whoever wants to practice walking or jogging and exercising can, through commitment to wearing masks, gloves and the use of sanitizers, stressing that sport is important and beneficial health, physical and psychological.

Looking at people who use to never walk came out to walk in large numbers, social media exploded saying to cancel the walking hours from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. As large number of expats were seen not adhering to health precautions by keeping social distancing nor wearing masks as it would increase spread of corona virus in the country.

Some mocked the decision, saying Will the Corona virus disappear within the two-hour period allowed to walk?

Some citizens explained that the total ban is the last solution to contain the virus, saying, "If you want to not see your loved one in the care of a field hospital," you should stay in your homes and abide by the total ban, stressing that some citizens and expatriates do not bet on their awareness.

Some citizens said: We ask the concerned authorities to cancel the walking period during the total ban period in order to preserve the health of people and reduce mixing, indicating that at least one person or more may be infected and transmit infection to family members and the number of injuries increases, and it is not a shame that the decision be reversed.